TROUT FISHING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1945, Page 4

TROUT FISHING

EASTER PROSPECTS

EFFECT OF COLD SPELL

O.C. ROTORUA, this day. With accommodation at the majority of hotels in Rotorua fully booked over the Easter holiday period, it is anticipated that there will be many anglers here during the holiday period to fish the various lakes and streams in the district. According to Mr. A. Kean, conservator of fish and game, however, fishing in the Rotorua district is fairly difficult following the cold spell a fortnight ago. This has had the effect of driving most of the trcut in the iakes into deep water, and has had a deterrent effect on fishing generally.

Mr. Kean states that although conditions are by no means perfect, some excellent catches have been made recently. These were in the main, however, in the Taupo district, where some very large bags have been reported. Fishing at the mouth of the Tongariro River at Lake Taupo, Mr. T. Hurley (Turangi) and party cf three landed 120 fish, which averaged 61b. Included in the catch were two fish of 101b and one particularly fine specimen weighing 121b. Mr. V. Flight (Motuopu Bay) and party during four hours' fishing at the mouth of the Waimarino River took 14 trout, the heaviest weighing 131b. Mrs. Henderson (Wellington) secured a limit at the delta mouth of the Tongariro during five hcurs' fishing, including one of 91b.

Good Catches at Taupo

Fishing has been good on the whole at Taupo, particularly in the western bays, saaid Mr. Kean. A western bays, said Mr. Kean. A Messrs. A. Clarke, C. B. Peterson, W. Currie and W. Smith, took 170 fish during a week's fishing. Seme excellent catches have also been reported from the Waitalianui River, Mr. N. East and party of two rods-securing 76 over a recent week-end. The heaviest tipped the scales at 91b. Mr. H. Ware (Palmerston North) secured 48 at this point, including two limits. The heaviest fish was a brown trout weighing 11 lib. Messrs. H. Seagar and A. Bow (Auckland) took 50 fish during five days' fishing, including a brown trout weighing 1211b, while Mr. B. Clark (Palmerston Ncrth) secured 50 in fen days, including one of 1711b.

Of the lakes in and around Rotorua, Okataina has probably been fishing best. There are not many visitors at Lake Waikaremoana at present, and results of late have been disappointing, although the fish that have been landed have been in excellent condition. The best catch reported in this area for some weeks was a bag of 22 taken ever a recent week-end. These averaged from 2Jlb to 41b.

A report from Taupo yesterday stated that all hotels and fishing lodges in the district had been fully booked up for Easter, and a very large number of anglers was expected. Heavy west winds on the eastern side of the lake were making fishing difficult, as also was a heavy south-westerly wind at the mouth of the Tcngariro. Although the river was now virtually back to normal and the water was clear, fishing was difficult, it was stated.